A judge in St. Charles County, Missouri, is facing a forced exit from the bench following a scathing judicial report that accused him of habitually wearing an Elvis Presley wig during court sessions and even playing the singer’s songs. Matthew E.P. Thornhill, a circuit judge, has reached an agreement with the state disciplinary board that involves a six-month suspension without pay, followed by 18 months of return service before his resignation, as per court documents.
The Missouri Commission on Retirement, Removal and Discipline of Judges disclosed that Thornhill repeatedly disregarded courtroom decorum. The report outlined instances where he wore an Elvis wig during official proceedings, allowed litigants to choose unconventional swearing-in methods, such as selecting a Presley track from his phone, and recited unrelated Elvis lyrics during hearings.
The departure proposal is currently under review by the Missouri Supreme Court, which recently received 35 letters praising Thornhill’s character, contrasting sharply with the commission’s detailed accounts of his behavior.
Investigations revealed that Thornhill frequently compromised the dignity of the courtroom, notably by wearing an Elvis wig during official duties and letting litigants select unconventional swearing-in procedures, which included choosing Presley tracks. Moreover, he recited lyrics by the singer that had no relevance to the cases at hand, leaving witnesses, lawyers, and hearing participants bewildered.
The commission also accused Thornhill of engaging in improper political activities by referencing his political affiliation from the bench and discussing the placement of his campaign signs during court sessions. Furthermore, he provided a personal reference to another judge in a juvenile adoption case, a violation for sitting judges.
In a letter dated November 12 to the state’s highest court, Thornhill admitted the allegations were substantially accurate and acknowledged that disciplinary officials could substantiate them. He expressed regret for potentially compromising the integrity and solemnity of court proceedings and vowed to serve the people of Missouri with honor and dignity in the future.
Thornhill, the longest-serving circuit judge in St. Charles County, is known for his interests in Elvis, gardening, surfing, watching soccer, golfing with his children, and running with his dog on the Katy Trail, as per his court biography.